EP3464137B1 - Sheet supplying apparatus - Google Patents
Sheet supplying apparatus Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP3464137B1 EP3464137B1 EP17824487.7A EP17824487A EP3464137B1 EP 3464137 B1 EP3464137 B1 EP 3464137B1 EP 17824487 A EP17824487 A EP 17824487A EP 3464137 B1 EP3464137 B1 EP 3464137B1
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- sheet
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Images
Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H3/00—Separating articles from piles
- B65H3/02—Separating articles from piles using friction forces between articles and separator
- B65H3/06—Rollers or like rotary separators
- B65H3/0669—Driving devices therefor
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- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
- G03G15/14—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for transferring a pattern to a second base
- G03G15/16—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for transferring a pattern to a second base of a toner pattern, e.g. a powder pattern, e.g. magnetic transfer
- G03G15/1605—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for transferring a pattern to a second base of a toner pattern, e.g. a powder pattern, e.g. magnetic transfer using at least one intermediate support
- G03G15/1615—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for transferring a pattern to a second base of a toner pattern, e.g. a powder pattern, e.g. magnetic transfer using at least one intermediate support relating to the driving mechanism for the intermediate support, e.g. gears, couplings, belt tensioning
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
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- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H1/00—Supports or magazines for piles from which articles are to be separated
- B65H1/04—Supports or magazines for piles from which articles are to be separated adapted to support articles substantially horizontally, e.g. for separation from top of pile
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J11/00—Devices or arrangements of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form
- B41J11/36—Blanking or long feeds; Feeding to a particular line, e.g. by rotation of platen or feed roller
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- B65H1/00—Supports or magazines for piles from which articles are to be separated
- B65H1/26—Supports or magazines for piles from which articles are to be separated with auxiliary supports to facilitate introduction or renewal of the pile
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
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- B65H3/02—Separating articles from piles using friction forces between articles and separator
- B65H3/06—Rollers or like rotary separators
- B65H3/0684—Rollers or like rotary separators on moving support, e.g. pivoting, for bringing the roller or like rotary separator into contact with the pile
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- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H3/00—Separating articles from piles
- B65H3/46—Supplementary devices or measures to assist separation or prevent double feed
- B65H3/52—Friction retainers acting on under or rear side of article being separated
- B65H3/5246—Driven retainers, i.e. the motion thereof being provided by a dedicated drive
- B65H3/5253—Driven retainers, i.e. the motion thereof being provided by a dedicated drive the retainers positioned under articles separated from the top of the pile
- B65H3/5261—Retainers of the roller type, e.g. rollers
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- B65H3/46—Supplementary devices or measures to assist separation or prevent double feed
- B65H3/56—Elements, e.g. scrapers, fingers, needles, brushes, acting on separated article or on edge of the pile
- B65H3/565—Elements, e.g. scrapers, fingers, needles, brushes, acting on separated article or on edge of the pile for reintroducing partially separated articles in the stack
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
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- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
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- B65H3/66—Article guides or smoothers, e.g. movable in operation
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H9/00—Registering, e.g. orientating, articles; Devices therefor
- B65H9/06—Movable stops or gauges, e.g. rising and falling front stops
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- G—PHYSICS
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- G03G15/01—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for producing multicoloured copies
- G03G15/0105—Details of unit
- G03G15/0131—Details of unit for transferring a pattern to a second base
- G03G15/0136—Details of unit for transferring a pattern to a second base transfer member separable from recording member or vice versa, mode switching
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- G—PHYSICS
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- G03G15/2014—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for fixing, e.g. by using heat using heat using contact heat
- G03G15/2017—Structural details of the fixing unit in general, e.g. cooling means, heat shielding means
- G03G15/2028—Structural details of the fixing unit in general, e.g. cooling means, heat shielding means with means for handling the copy material in the fixing nip, e.g. introduction guides, stripping means
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- G—PHYSICS
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- G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
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- G03G15/2003—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for fixing, e.g. by using heat using heat
- G03G15/2014—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for fixing, e.g. by using heat using heat using contact heat
- G03G15/2064—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for fixing, e.g. by using heat using heat using contact heat combined with pressure
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- G—PHYSICS
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- G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
- G03G15/65—Apparatus which relate to the handling of copy material
- G03G15/6502—Supplying of sheet copy material; Cassettes therefor
- G03G15/6511—Feeding devices for picking up or separation of copy sheets
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
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- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
- B65H2301/10—Selective handling processes
- B65H2301/13—Relative to size or orientation of the material
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
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- B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
- B65H2301/30—Orientation, displacement, position of the handled material
- B65H2301/32—Orientation of handled material
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
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- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
- B65H2301/40—Type of handling process
- B65H2301/42—Piling, depiling, handling piles
- B65H2301/423—Depiling; Separating articles from a pile
- B65H2301/4232—Depiling; Separating articles from a pile of horizontal or inclined articles, i.e. wherein articles support fully or in part the mass of other articles in the piles
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
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- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
- B65H2301/40—Type of handling process
- B65H2301/44—Moving, forwarding, guiding material
- B65H2301/443—Moving, forwarding, guiding material by acting on surface of handled material
- B65H2301/4432—Moving, forwarding, guiding material by acting on surface of handled material by means having an operating surface contacting only one face of the material, e.g. roller
- B65H2301/44324—Rollers
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
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- B65H2403/00—Power transmission; Driving means
- B65H2403/40—Toothed gearings
- B65H2403/42—Spur gearing
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2403/00—Power transmission; Driving means
- B65H2403/40—Toothed gearings
- B65H2403/42—Spur gearing
- B65H2403/421—Spur gearing involving at least a gear with toothless portion
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
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- B65H2403/42—Spur gearing
- B65H2403/422—Spur gearing involving at least a swing gear
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
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- B65H2403/00—Power transmission; Driving means
- B65H2403/50—Driving mechanisms
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2403/00—Power transmission; Driving means
- B65H2403/50—Driving mechanisms
- B65H2403/51—Cam mechanisms
- B65H2403/512—Cam mechanisms involving radial plate cam
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2403/00—Power transmission; Driving means
- B65H2403/90—Machine drive
- B65H2403/94—Other features of machine drive
- B65H2403/942—Bidirectional powered handling device
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- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G2215/00—Apparatus for electrophotographic processes
- G03G2215/00362—Apparatus for electrophotographic processes relating to the copy medium handling
- G03G2215/00367—The feeding path segment where particular handling of the copy medium occurs, segments being adjacent and non-overlapping. Each segment is identified by the most downstream point in the segment, so that for instance the segment labelled "Fixing device" is referring to the path between the "Transfer device" and the "Fixing device"
- G03G2215/00396—Pick-up device
Definitions
- One or more embodiments relate to a sheet supplying apparatus that feeds one sheet at a time from a loading table.
- Apparatuses using a sheet-type medium for example, a cut sheet (hereinafter, referred to as paper), such as, printers, scanners, and ticket machines, employ a sheet supplying apparatus that feeds one sheet at a time from a loading table on which a plurality of sheets are placed.
- a sheet-type medium for example, a cut sheet (hereinafter, referred to as paper)
- printers, scanners, and ticket machines employ a sheet supplying apparatus that feeds one sheet at a time from a loading table on which a plurality of sheets are placed.
- a pickup roller that picks up a sheet of paper from a loading table contacts paper when feeding is performed, but is apart from the paper when feeding is not performed.
- the pickup roller is provided on a holder supported to be pivotable about a shaft.
- the pickup roller is connected to the shaft and is rotatable by the shaft.
- a spring clutch, a torque limiter, and the like are mounted on the shaft to rotate the holder due to a load when the shaft rotates, thereby making the pickup roller be in contact with/apart from paper.
- the spring clutch and the torque limiter may increase a driving load and generate noise when being operated.
- a difference between pressing forces with which the pickup roller presses paper may increase a risk of multi-feeding.
- a stopper that switches between a location for aligning fore-ends of papers contained on the loading table and a location allowing paper to be fed and transported may be employed.
- driving equipment such as a solenoid, is employed to drive the stopper, which causes a cost increase.
- US2008/0061494 A1 discloses a media-feed mechanism for a business machine.
- One or more embodiments include a sheet supplying apparatus capable of switching locations of a pickup member and an alignment member, and a sheet processing apparatus employing the sheet supplying apparatus.
- the invention is directed to a sheet supplying apparatus according to claim 1.
- a sheet supplying apparatus capable of switching locations of a pickup roller and an alignment member by using forward and backward rotations of a main gear that pivots a swing arm.
- the locations of the pickup roller and the alignment member may be switched without employing a torque limiter, a spring clutch, a solenoid, or the like, thereby reducing manufacturing costs and operation noise. Moreover, a pressing force applied to the pickup roller may be stabilized, and thus stable feeding is possible. The pressing roller may be pressed/released to/from the fixing roller without employing a special driving source.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sheet supplying apparatus 1 according to an embodiment.
- FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the sheet supplying apparatus 1 according to an embodiment.
- FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of a state of the sheet supplying apparatus 1 in which a pickup roller 20 is positioned at a pickup location.
- the sheet supplying apparatus 1 may include a loading table 10 on which sheet-type media, for example, a cut sheet (hereinafter, referred to as papers), are placed, and the pickup roller (pickup member) 20 that picks up a sheet of paper P from the loading table 10.
- a pickup member is not limited to a roller type, and may be any of various types, such as, a belt type.
- the pickup roller 20 is supported by a holder 40 that is pivotable. As shown in FIG. 3 , the holder 40 is pivoted to a pickup location for allowing the pickup roller 20 to contact a sheet P1 at the top from among the papers P placed on the loading table 10. As shown in FIG. 2 , the holder 40 is pivoted to a separating location for separating the pickup roller 20 from the sheet P1. The holder 40 is positioned at the pickup location when feeding is performed, and is positioned at the separating location when feeding is not performed.
- the sheet P1 is picked up and fed out of the loading table 10.
- the sheet P1 and at least one sheet P2 below the sheet P1 may be guided out together, which is referred to as multi-feeding.
- the sheet supplying apparatus 1 may further include a separating unit 30 separating and transporting only one sheet, for example, only the sheet P1, when multi-feeding occurs.
- the separating unit 30 may have various structures, such as a friction separation structure and a retard-type separation structure. Because the structure of the separating unit 30 is well known, a separating unit 30 having a retard-type separation structure will now be described in brief.
- FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a separating unit 30 having a retard-type separation structure, according to an embodiment.
- the separating unit 30 may include a feed roller 31, a retard roller 32, and a torque limiter 33.
- the feed roller 31 and the retard roller 32 rotate in mesh with each other.
- the feed roller 31 is connected to, for example, a motor 100, and is rotated in a first direction B1 such that the papers P are transported in a withdrawing direction A1.
- a driving force in a second direction B2 to transport the papers P in a direction A2 opposite the withdrawing direction A1 is transmitted from the motor 100 to the retard roller 32.
- the torque limiter 33 limits the driving force in the second direction B2 transmitted to the retard roller 32.
- the torque limiter 33 may have various well-known structures.
- the torque limiter 33 may be implemented by a spring clutch structure.
- the torque limiter 33 may be provided between, for example, a rotation shaft 32-1 and the retard roller 32 or between a gear 34 transmitting the driving force of the motor 100 in the second direction B2 to the rotation shaft 32-1 and the rotation shaft 32-1.
- the torque limiter 33 limits the driving force in the second direction B2 transmitted to the retard roller 32, according to the size of a load torque applied to the retard roller 32.
- the load torque applied to the retard roller 32 is less than a threshold torque provided by the torque limiter 33
- the driving force in the second direction B2 is transmitted to the retard roller 32, and thus the retard roller 32 rotates in the second direction B2.
- the load torque applied to the retard roller 32 exceeds the threshold torque provided by the torque limiter 33, the driving force in the second direction B2 transmitted to the retard roller 32 is blocked by the torque limiter 33. In this case, the retard roller 32 is rotated in a third direction B3 by the feed roller 31.
- the load torque applied to the retard roller 32 is greater than the threshold torque of the torque limiter 33, and thus the torque limiter 33 blocks the driving force toward the retard roller 32. Accordingly, the retard roller 32 rotates in the third direction B3 for transporting the papers P in the withdrawing direction A1 in corporation with the feed roller 31.
- the sheet P1 and the sheet P2 When at least two sheets of paper P, for example, the sheet P1 and the sheet P2, are guided between the feed roller 31 and the retard roller 32, the sheet P1 and the sheet P2 contact the feed roller 31 and the retard roller 32, respectively. At this time, friction between the sheet P1 and the sheet P2 is less than friction between the sheet P2 and the retard roller 32. Thus, a slip occurs between the sheet P1 and the sheet P2, and the load torque applied to the retard roller 32 is less than the threshold torque provided by the torque limiter 33.
- the retard roller 32 rotates in the second direction B2, and the sheet P2 is transported in the direction A2 opposite the withdrawing direction A1 by the retard roller 32. Accordingly, only the sheet P1 passes between the feed roller 31 and the retard roller 32 and is transported in the withdrawing direction A1.
- the sheet supplying apparatus 1 may further include an alignment member 60.
- the alignment member 60 is positioned at an alignment location, as shown in FIG. 2 , and provides an alignment criterion of fore-ends PF of the papers P when the papers P are placed on the loading table 10. At the alignment location, the fore-ends PF of the papers P placed on the loading table 10 contact the alignment member 60.
- the alignment member 60 may be switched to a transport-allowing location, as shown in FIG. 3 , in order to allow a sheet picked up by the pickup roller 20 to be transported.
- the sheet supplying apparatus 1 may further include a stopper 70 that stops the alignment member 60 to not excessively rotate beyond the transport-allowing location.
- the alignment member 60 may be coupled to a pivoting shaft 120.
- FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an example of a structure for fixing a member to the pivoting shaft 120. As shown in FIG. 5 , a pin 120-2 is inserted into a pin hole 120-1 provided in the pivoting shaft 120. A pin accommodating portion 60-1, in which the pin 120-2 is accommodated, is provided on the alignment member 60. The alignment member 60 is inserted into the pivoting shaft 120 such that the pin 120-2 is seated on the pin accommodating portion 60-1. The alignment member 60 may be integrally formed with the pivoting shaft 120.
- the holder 40 is provided to be pivotable about a rotation shaft 31-1 of the feed roller 31.
- the pickup roller 20 rotates in connection with the feed roller 31.
- the pickup roller 20 is connected to the feed roller 31 via a timing belt 80, but a gear (not shown) may be used instead of the timing belt 80. In this case, an odd number of gears are employed so that the pickup roller 20 and the feed roller 31 rotate in the same direction.
- a first elastic member 50 applies, to the holder 40, an elastic force in a direction allowing the holder 40 to be pivoted to the pickup location.
- the first elastic member 50 may be one of various types of members including a compression coil spring, a tension coil spring, a torsion spring, and the like.
- the alignment member 60 When the alignment member 60 pivots from the transport-allowing location to the alignment location, the alignment member 60 may push the holder 40 in a direction opposite a direction of the elastic force of the first elastic member 50 and pivots the holder 40 to the separating location. At the alignment location, the alignment member 60 supports the holder 40 and maintains the holder 40 at the separating location. When the alignment member 60 pivots from the alignment location to the transport-allowing location, the holder 40 pivots from the separating location to the pickup location due to the elastic force of the first elastic member 50.
- the pickup roller 20 may be switched between the pickup location and the separating location. Accordingly, a location of the pickup roller 20 may be switched without an increase in a driving load or generation of noise. Because a pressing force of pressing the pickup roller 20 down on the papers P is determined by the first elastic member 50, a stable pressing force may be applied to the pickup roller 20, and thus the risk of multi-feeding due to a difference between pressing forces applied may be reduced.
- the alignment member 60 is switched between the alignment location and the transport-allowing location by using a swinging operation of a gear without using a driver, such as a solenoid.
- a lever 130 is provided on one end of the pivoting shaft 120.
- the lever 130 may be fixed to the pivoting shaft 120.
- a pin 120-4 is inserted into a pin hole 120-3 provided in the pivoting shaft 120.
- a pin accommodating portion 130-1 in which the pin 120-4 is accommodated, is provided on the lever 130.
- the lever 130 is inserted into the pivoting shaft 120 such that the pin 120-4 is seated on the pin accommodating portion 130-1.
- the lever 130 may be integrally formed with the pivoting shaft 120.
- FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the cam gear 140 according to an embodiment.
- the cam gear 140 may include a gear portion 141 and a cam portion 143.
- a tooth-omitted portion 142 is partially provided on the gear portion 141.
- the cam portion 143 has a cam profile 144 for switching the alignment member 60 between the alignment location and the transport-allowing location.
- the cam portion 143 is connected to the lever 130.
- the cam portion 143 may contact the lever 130 and pivot the pivoting shaft 120 to switch the alignment member 60 to the alignment location.
- the holder 40 presses the alignment member 60 due to the elastic force of the first elastic member 50, and thus the alignment member 60 may be pivoted to the transport-allowing location.
- the sheet supplying apparatus 1 may further include a second elastic member 150 which provides an elastic force in a direction allowing the alignment member 60 to be switched to the transport-allowing location.
- the second elastic member 150 applies, to the pivoting shaft 120, the elastic force in a direction allowing the alignment member 60 to be switched to the transport-allowing location.
- the second elastic member 150 may be not only a torsion spring, as shown in FIG. 1 , but also may be any of various types of springs, such as a compression or tension coil spring, a plate spring, and the like.
- the cam gear 140 is rotated by the motor 100.
- a main gear 160 is connected to the motor 100.
- a swing arm 170 is pivotable about the same axis as a rotation axis of the main gear 160.
- the swing arm 170 may be pivotable about the rotation axis of the main gear 160.
- First and second swing gears 181 and 182 engage with the main gear 160.
- FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the swing arm 170 and the first and second swing gears 181 and 182 according to an embodiment.
- the first and second swing gears 181 and 182 are provided on the swing arm 170.
- First and second shafts 171 and 172 are provided on the swing arm 170.
- the first and second swing gears 181 and 182 are provided to be rotatable about the first and second shafts 171 and 172, respectively.
- a load providing member 173 providing a rotation load to the first and second swing gears 181 and 182 is interposed between each of the first and second swing gears 181 and 182 and the swing arm 170.
- the load providing member 173 may be, for example, a spring washer, a friction pad, or the like.
- the swing arm 170 pivots in the same direction as a rotation direction of the main gear 160.
- the first and second swing gears 181 and 182 are selectively connected to the gear portion 141 of the cam gear 140.
- an idle gear 190 is interposed between one of the first and second swing gears 181 and 182 and the gear portion 141.
- the idle gear 190 is interposed between the second swing gear 182 and the gear portion 141.
- the number of idle gears 190 is an odd number.
- the single idle gear 190 engages with the gear portion 141.
- FIGS. 8a-8f are schematic side views for illustrating location switching of the alignment member 60 and the holder 40. An operation of the sheet supplying apparatus 1 according to the above-described structure will now be described with reference to FIGS. 8a-8f .
- the cam gear 140 is positioned at a first rotating location.
- the lever 130 contacts the cam portion 143, and thus the alignment member 60 is positioned at the alignment location.
- the holder 40 is supported by the alignment member 60 and positioned at the separating location.
- the second swing gear 182 is connected to the idle gear 190, and the idle gear 190 is positioned on the tooth-omitted portion 142. In this state, when the papers P are placed on the loading table 10, the fore-ends PF of the papers P contact the alignment member 60, and thus the papers P are aligned.
- the cam gear 140 rotates in a direction D1, as shown in FIG. 8c .
- the cam gear 140 reaches a second rotating location that allows the alignment member 60 to be switched to the transport-allowing location.
- the pivoting shaft 120 is pivoted due to the elastic force of the second elastic member 150, and the alignment member 60 is switched to the transport-allowing location.
- the alignment member 60 contacts the stopper 70 of FIG. 3 . Accordingly, the alignment member 60 is maintained at the transport-allowing location due to the elastic force of the second elastic member 150 and the stopper 70.
- the holder 40 is pivoted to the pickup location allowing the pickup roller 20 to contact the papers P, due to the elastic force of the first elastic member 50.
- the alignment member 60 may be pushed by the holder 40 pivoted to the pickup location due to the elastic force of the first elastic member 50 and thus pivoted to the transport-allowing location, and consequently the alignment member 60 may contact the stopper 70.
- the motor 100 rotates in a backward direction. As shown in FIG. 8d , the main gear 160 rotates in a direction C2. Then, the swing arm 170 is rotated in the direction C2, the first swing gear 181 is spaced apart from the tooth-omitted portion 142, and the second swing gear 182 is connected to the idle gear 190. The idle gear 190 is connected to the gear portion 141.
- the cam gear 140 rotates in the direction D1, as shown in FIG. 8e .
- the cam portion 143 contacts the lever 130.
- the cam portion 141 pushes the lever 130, and the pivoting shaft 120 is pivoted in a direction opposite to a direction of the elastic force of the second elastic member 150.
- the alignment member 60 is pivoted from the transport-allowing location to the alignment location.
- an abnormal feeding-terminated situation such as, when a jam occurs during feeding or when the sheet supplying apparatus 1 is powered off
- an operation of addressing the abnormal feeding-terminated situation and then initializing the location of the cam gear 140 may be needed.
- the motor 100 rotates in the forward direction for a certain period of time.
- the cam gear 140 is positioned at the second rotating location, as shown in FIG. 8c .
- the cam gear 140 may reach the first rotating location, as shown in FIG. 8a .
- a time period for the rotation in the forward direction and a time period for the rotation in the backward direction are long enough as one rotation of the cam gear 140.
- the shape of the cam profile 144 of the cam portion 143 and a connection structure between the cam portion 143 and the lever 130 are not limited to the aforementioned examples.
- the shape of the cam profile 144 of the cam portion 143 and the connection structure between the cam portion 143 and the lever 130 may be implemented as various embodiments capable of switching the alignment member 60 between the alignment location and the transport-allowing location.
- the alignment member 60 may be switched between the alignment location and the transport-allowing location and the holder 40 may be switched between the pickup location and the separating location, due to the forward rotation and the backward rotation of the motor 100 for driving the sheet supplying apparatus 1.
- costs for manufacturing the sheet supplying apparatus 1 may be reduced.
- FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a scanner 600 employing a sheet supplying apparatus 1, not according to the invention.
- the scanner 600 may include the sheet supplying apparatus 1, and a sheet processing unit which reads out an image from a document D supplied by the sheet supplying apparatus 1 while transporting the document D.
- the sheet processing unit may include a document transport unit 600a and a read unit 600b reading an image from the document D.
- the sheet supplying apparatus 1 employed in the scanner 600 is the above-described sheet supplying apparatus 1. Because the scanner 600 reads an image recorded on a document, the sheet supplying apparatus 1 supplies the document D.
- the read unit 600b may include a read member 650 for reading an image from the document D.
- the read member 650 radiates light to the document D, and receives light reflected by the document D to thereby read the image from the document D.
- a contact type image sensor (CIS), a charge-coupled device (CCD), or the like may be employed as the read member 650.
- Types of the scanner 600 include a flatbed type in which the document D is located in a fixed location and a read member, such as a CIS or a CCD, reads an image from the document D while moving, a document feed type in which the read member is located in a fixed location and the document D is transported, and a combination of the two types.
- the scanner 600 is a scanner of a combination of the flatbed type and the document feed type.
- the read unit 600b further may include a platen glass 660 on which the document D is placed so that an image is read from the document D using a flatbed method.
- the read unit 600b further may include a read window 670 for reading an image from the document D therethrough by using a document feed method.
- the read window 670 may be, for example, a transparent member.
- a top surface of the read window 670 may be at a same level as a top surface of the platen glass 660.
- the read member 650 When the document feed method is applied, the read member 650 is located below the read window 670. When the flatbed method is applied, the read member 650 may be moved from below the platen glass 660 in a sub-scanning direction S, namely, a lengthwise direction of the document D, by a transportation unit (not shown). Moreover, when the flatbed method is applied, the platen glass 660 needs to be exposed to the outside such that the document D is placed thereon. To this end, the document transport unit 600a may expose the platen glass 660 by being pivoted with respect to the read unit 600b.
- the document transport unit 600a transports the document D such that the read member 650 may read an image from the document D, and discharges the document D from which an image has been read.
- the document transport unit 600a may include a document transport path 610, and the read member 650 reads an image from the document D transported along the document transport path 610.
- the document transport path 610 may include a supply path 611, a read path 612, and a discharge path 613.
- the read member 650 is disposed on the read path 612, and, while the document D is passing the read path 612, the image recorded on the document D is read out by the read member 650.
- the supply path 611 is used to supply the document D to the read path 612, and the document D placed on the loading table 10 is supplied to the read path 612 via the supply path 611.
- the discharge path 613 is used to discharge the document D that has passed the read path 612. Accordingly, the document D placed on the loading table 10 is transported along the supply path 611, the read path 612, and the discharge path 613 and is discharged to a discharge tray 630.
- Transporting rollers 621 and 622 for transporting the document D led out of the loading table 10 by the sheet supplying apparatus 1 may be arranged on the document transport path 610.
- Each of the transporting rollers 621 and 622 has a structure in which a driving roller and a driven roller rotate in mesh with each other.
- Transporting rollers 623 and 626 transporting the document D may be arranged on the read path 612.
- the transporting rollers 623 and 626 transporting the document D may be arranged on both sides of the read member 650, respectively.
- Each of the transporting rollers 623 and 626 has a structure in which a driving roller and a driven roller rotate in mesh with each other.
- a read guiding member 624 opposite to the read member 650 is disposed on the read path 612.
- the read guiding member 624 presses the read window 670 by the own weight of the read guiding member 624 or by an elastic member 625, and the document D is transported between the read window 670 and the read guiding member 624.
- a read roller that rotates while elastically pressuring the read window 670 and transports the document D supplied between the read roller and the read window 670 may be used instead of the read guiding member 624.
- a discharge roller 627 discharging the document D on which reading has been completed is disposed on the discharge path 613.
- the discharge roller 627 has a structure in which a driving roller and a driven roller rotate in mesh with each other.
- the document D supplied by the sheet supplying apparatus 1 may be transported along the supply path 611, the read path 612, and the discharge path 613, and the read member 650 may read an image from the document D.
- the shape of the scanner 600 is not limited to the example of FIG. 9 .
- the scanner 600 may further include a path (re-transporting path) for transporting a document D having one read side back to a transporting roller 623 by rotating the discharge roller 627 in a backward direction.
- another read member 650 for reading an image from the other side of the document D may be disposed on an upstream side of the discharge roller 627.
- FIG. 10 is a schematic view of an image forming apparatus 700 employing a sheet supplying apparatus 1, not forming part of the invention.
- the image forming apparatus 700 may include the sheet supplying apparatus 1, and a printing unit (sheet processing unit) 700a which prints an image on a sheet P supplied by the sheet supplying apparatus 1.
- the sheet supplying apparatus 1 may be placed as a cassette feeder, below the printing unit 700a.
- the sheet supplying apparatus 1 may be implemented as a multi-purpose tray (MPT) placed on one lateral side of the printing unit 700a.
- MPT multi-purpose tray
- the printing unit 700a may print an image on the sheet P according to any of various methods, such as electrophotography, inkjet printing, thermal transfer printing, and thermal sublimation.
- the image forming apparatus 700 prints a color image to the sheet P via electrophotography.
- the printing unit 700a may include a plurality of developing units 710, an exposure unit 720, a transfer unit, and a fixing unit 740.
- the plurality of developing units 710 may include four developing units 710 for developing images with cyan (C) color, magenta (M) color, yellow (Y) color, and black (K) color, respectively. Toners with cyan (C) color, magenta (M) color, yellow (Y) color, and black (K) color may be contained in the four developing units 710, respectively.
- the printing unit 700a further may include developing units 710 for containing and developing toners of other various colors such as a light magenta color, a white color, or the like.
- Each developing unit 710 may include a photoconductive drum 7a.
- the photoconductive drum 7a as a photoconductor on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, may include a conductive metal pipe and a photosensitive layer formed at an outer circumference of the conductive metal pipe.
- a charging roller 7c is an example of a charger that charges a surface of the photosensitive drum 7a to have a uniform surface potential.
- a cleaning blade 7d is an example of a cleaning member that removes residual toners and foreign substances attached to the surface of the photosensitive drum 7a after a transfer process to be described below.
- the developing unit 710 supplies a toner contained therein to an electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductive drum 7a, thereby developing the electrostatic latent image to a visible toner image.
- a developing method may include a one-component developing method using a toner and a two-component developing method using a toner and a carrier.
- the developing unit 710 employs the one-component developing method.
- a developing roller 7b supplies a toner to the photoconductive drum 7a.
- a developing bias voltage may be applied to the developing roller 7b to supply the toner to the photosensitive drum 7a.
- the one-component developing method may be classified into a contact developing method in which the developing roller 7b and the photoconductive drum 7a rotate in contact with each other, or a non-contact developing method in which the developing roller 7b and the photoconductive drum 7a are spaced apart from each other by several tens to several hundreds of micrometers and rotate.
- a supply roller 7e supplies the toner in the developing unit 710 to a surface of the developing roller 7b.
- a supply bias voltage for supplying the toner in the developing unit 710 to a surface of the developing roller 7b may be applied to the supply roller 7e.
- the exposure unit 720 radiates light modulated in correspondence with image information onto the photoconductive drum 7a and forms the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductive drum 7a.
- Examples of the exposure unit 720 may include a laser scanning unit (LSU) using a laser diode as a light source and a light emitting diode (LED) exposure unit using an LED as a light source.
- LSU laser scanning unit
- LED light emitting diode
- the transfer unit may include an intermediate transfer belt 731, an intermediate transfer roller 732, and a transfer roller 733.
- the intermediate transfer belt 731 temporarily receives a toner image developed on the photoconductive drum 7a of each of the four developing units 710.
- the intermediate transfer belt 731 is circulated while being supported by supporting rollers 734, 735, and 736.
- Four intermediate transfer rollers 732 are positioned to face the photoconductive drums 7a of the four developing units 710 with the intermediate transfer belt 731 therebetween.
- a first transfer bias voltage is applied to the four intermediate transfer rollers 732 so as to firstly transfer toner images, which are developed on the photosensitive drums 7a, to the intermediate transfer belt 731.
- the transfer roller 733 is positioned to face the intermediate transfer belt 731.
- a second transfer bias voltage is applied to the transfer roller 733 so as to transfer, to the sheet P, the toner images that are firstly-transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 731.
- a controller charges, by using the charging roller 7c, the surface of the photoconductive drum 7a to have a uniform surface potential.
- the exposure unit 720 forms electrostatic latent images on the photoconductive drums 7a by scanning four light-beams to the photoconductive drums 7a of the four developing unit 710, the four light-beams being modulated according to image information corresponding to cyan, magenta, yellow, and black colors, respectively.
- the developing rollers 7b of the four developing units 710 supply C, M, Y, and K toners to the photoconductive drums 7a, respectively, thereby developing the electrostatic latent images into visible toner images.
- the developed toner images are firstly transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 731.
- the sheet P from the sheet supplying apparatus 1 is transported to a transfer nip formed by the transfer roller 733 and the intermediate transfer belt 731.
- the toner images that are firstly-transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 731 are secondly transferred to the sheet P due to the second transfer bias voltage applied to the transfer roller 733.
- the toner images are fixed on the sheet P due to heat and pressure.
- the sheet P on which fixing has been completed is externally discharged by a discharging roller 750.
- FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a multi-function printer according to an embodiment not according to the invention.
- the scanner 600 is disposed on the printing unit 700a.
- the structures of the scanner 600 and the printing unit 700a have already been described above with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10 .
- the sheet supplying apparatus 1 supplying a sheet P to the printing unit 700a may be implemented in various types.
- the sheet supplying apparatus 1 may be realized as an MPT placed on a lateral side of the printing unit 700a, a main cassette feeder 810 provided below the printing unit 700a, a secondary cassette feeder 820 provided below the main cassette feeder 810, a high capacity feeder 830 provided below the main cassette feeder 810 or the secondary cassette feeder 820, or a high capacity feeder 840 provided on a lateral side of the printing unit 700a, as shown in FIG. 11 .
- the swing arm 170, the first and second swing gears 181 and 182, and the cam gear 140 described above may change a mode of an object via forward and backward rotations of a motor.
- the fixing unit 740 may include a fixing roller 741 and a pressing roller 742 rotating in mesh with each other.
- the pressing roller 742 presses and contacts the fixing roller 741.
- a pressing force applied to the pressing roller 742 may be released to handle the jam.
- a special driving source may be employed. In this case, costs of image forming apparatuses may increase.
- the pressing force applied to the pressing roller 742 may be released by using forward rotation and backward rotation of a motor for driving the fixing roller 741.
- FIG. 12 is a schematic perspective view of the fixing unit 740 of FIG. 10 according to an embodiment not according to the invention.
- FIGS. 13a-13d are side views illustrating a process of forming/releasing a pressing force.
- a spring 743 presses the pressing roller 742 toward the fixing roller 741.
- the spring 743 is a tension coil spring.
- a release lever 744 is supported to be pivotable about a pivoting shaft 745. One end of the release lever 744 contacts a cam portion 143a.
- One end of the spring 743 is connected to the pressing roller 742, and the other end thereof is connected to the release lever 744.
- a cam gear 140a is positioned at a first rotating location.
- the release lever 744 contacts a top dead portion 143a-1 of the cam portion 143a, and extends the spring 743 and is positioned at a pressing location for pressing the pressing roller 742 toward the fixing roller 741.
- a second swing gear 182 is connected to an idle gear 190, and the idle gear 190 is positioned at a tooth-omitted portion 142a.
- a first swing gear 181 is spaced apart from a gear portion 141a. Even when a main gear 160 rotates in a forward direction, the cam gear 140a is not rotated, and the release lever 744 is maintained at the pressing location. In this state, printing may be performed.
- the main gear 160 rotates in a backward direction. Then, as shown in FIG. 13b , a swing arm 170 rotates in the same direction as the rotating direction of the main gear 160, and the first swing gear 181 is connected to the gear portion 141a. The second swing gear 182 is spaced apart from the idle gear 190.
- the cam gear 140a rotates as shown in FIG. 13c , and thus the release lever 744 contacts a bottom dead portion 143a-2 of the cam portion 143a, and the release lever 744 is pivoted in a direction shortening the spring 743 and is thus positioned at a releasing location.
- the pressing force applied to the pressing roller 742 by the spring 743 is reduced or released.
- the first swing gear 181 is positioned on the tooth-omitted portion 142a, and the cam gear 140a reaches a second rotating location.
- the second swing gear 182 is connected to the idle gear 190, as shown in FIG. 13d , and the first swing gear 181 is spaced apart from the tooth-omitted portion 141a.
- the cam gear 140a returns to the first rotating location.
- the release lever 744 is positioned at a pressing location where the release lever 744 contacts the top dead portion 143a-1, and the pressing roller 742 is pressed toward the fixing roller 741 by the spring 743.
- the idle gear 190 is positioned at the tooth-omitted portion 142a, and, even when the main gear 160 rotates in the forward direction, the cam gear 140a does not rotate. In this state, printing may be performed.
- the main gear 160 may be rotated by a motor (not shown) for driving the pressing roller 742 and the fixing roller 741.
- the motor (not shown) may drive the other components of the image forming apparatus 700. According to the above-described structure, the pressing force may be released/formed by using the motor that drives the fixing unit 740, without employing a special driving source.
- the intermediate transfer rollers 732 are pressed toward the photoconductive drums 7a to form a transfer nip between the photoconductive drums 7a and the intermediate transfer belt 731.
- all of the four intermediate transfer rollers 732 may be positioned at pressing locations for pressing the photoconductive drums 7a of the four developing units 710 respectively corresponding to the four intermediate transfer rollers 732.
- a single-color image namely, a K color image
- only the developing unit 710 corresponding to the K color is used.
- the intermediate transfer roller 732 corresponding to the K color is maintained at a pressing location where the intermediate transfer roller 732 is pressed toward the photoconductive drum 7a of the developing unit 710 corresponding to the intermediate transfer roller 732, and the other three intermediate transfer rollers 732 respectively corresponding to Y, C, and M colors may be positioned at releasing locations where pressing forces have been released.
- pressing forces of intermediate transfer rollers 732 not used when a single-color image is printed are released, and thus wear of the intermediate transfer belt 731 may be reduced.
- FIG. 14 is a partially-exploded perspective view of a transfer unit according to an embodiment not according to the invention.
- an intermediate transfer roller 732Y is supported by a pair of frames 760-1 and 760-2.
- a pair of support brackets 761 are inserted into both ends of the intermediate transfer roller 732Y and are supported to be pivotable about shafts 762 provided on the frames 760-1 and 760-2.
- Springs 763 apply elastic forces so that the support brackets 761 are pivoted in a direction in which the intermediate transfer roller 732Y approaches a photoconductive drum 7a.
- Intermediate transfer rollers 732M and 732C are supported by the frames 760-1 and 760-2 according to the same method as that for the intermediate transfer roller 732Y.
- An intermediate transfer roller 732K may be supported by the frames 760-1 and 760-2 to be maintained at a pressing location.
- the intermediate transfer roller 732K may be supported by the frames 760-1 and 760-2 according to the same method as that for the intermediate transfer roller 732Y. However, the intermediate transfer roller 732K is maintained at the pressing location.
- FIG. 15 is a perspective view of each releasing member 770 according to an embodiment.
- the releasing member 770 may include first and second contact portions 771 and 772 spaced apart from each other in the sliding direction.
- the releasing member 770 further may include three inclined portions 773 inclined in the sliding direction to pivot the support brackets 761. The inclined portions 773 interfere with an interfering portion 761-1 provided on each support bracket 761 and pivots the support bracket 761 in the sliding direction of the releasing member 770.
- a rotation shaft 780 is rotatably supported by the frames 760-1 and 760-2.
- a cam gear 140b for sliding the releasing member 770 back and forth is coupled to the rotation shaft 780.
- the cam gear 140b may include a gear portion 141b and a cam portion 143b.
- a tooth-omitted portion 142b is partially provided on the gear portion 141b.
- the support brackets 761 are pivoted in a direction opposite a direction of the elastic forces of the springs 763, and thus the intermediate transfer rollers 732Y, 732M, and 732C are moved to the releasing locations.
- the cam portion 143b contacts the second contact portion 772
- the releasing member 770 slides in the direction F2, in which the inclined portions 773 are spaced apart from the interfering portion 761-1.
- the support brackets 761 are pivoted in a direction for positioning the intermediate transfer rollers 732Y, 732M, and 732C at the pressing locations.
- FIGS. 16a-16d are side views illustrating a process of switching an intermediate transfer roller 732 between a pressing location and a releasing location.
- the cam gear 140b is positioned at a first rotating location.
- the cam portion 143b contacts the second contact portion 772.
- the intermediate transfer rollers 732Y, 732M, and 732C are positioned at the pressing locations.
- the second swing gear 182 is connected to the idle gear 190, and the idle gear 190 is positioned on the tooth-omitted portion 142b.
- the first swing gear 181 is spaced apart from the gear portion 141b. Even when the main gear 160 rotates in a forward direction, the cam gear 140b is not rotated, and the intermediate transfer rollers 732Y, 732M, and 732C are maintained at the pressing locations. In this state, color printing may be performed.
- the main gear 160 When a single-color image, namely, a K color image, desires to be printed, the main gear 160 is rotated in a backward direction. Then, as shown in FIG. 16b , the swing arm 170 rotates in the same direction as the rotating direction of the main gear 160, and the first swing gear 181 is connected to the gear portion 141b. The second swing gear 182 is spaced apart from the idle gear 190.
- the cam gear 140b When the main gear 160 continuously rotates in the backward direction, the cam gear 140b is rotated, and thus the cam portion 143b contacts the first contact portion 771, as shown in FIG. 16c . Then, the releasing member 770 slides in the direction F1, and the inclined portions 773 press the interfering portion 761-1 and pivots the support bracket 761 in the direction opposite the direction of the elastic forces of the springs 763. Then, the intermediate transfer rollers 732Y, 732M, and 732C are moved to the releasing locations, and a transfer nip between the intermediate transfer rollers 732Y, 732M, and 732C and the photoconductive drums 7a corresponding to the intermediate transfer rollers 732Y, 732M, and 732C is released.
- the second swing gear 182 When the main gear 160 rotates in the forward direction, the second swing gear 182 is connected to the idle gear 190, as shown in FIG. 16d , and the first swing gear 181 is spaced apart from the tooth-omitted portion 141b.
- the cam gear 140b returns to the first rotating location, as shown in FIG. 16a .
- the cam portion 143b contacts the second contact portion 772 the releasing member 770 slides in the direction F2, in which the inclined portions 773 are spaced apart from the interfering portion 761-1.
- the support brackets 761 are pivoted in the direction of the elastic forces of the springs 763, and thus the intermediate transfer rollers 732Y, 732M, and 732C are moved to the pressing locations.
- the second swing gear 182 is connected to the idle gear 190, and the idle gear 190 is positioned on the tooth-omitted portion 142b.
- the first swing gear 181 is spaced apart from the gear portion 141b. Accordingly, even when the main gear 160 rotates in the forward direction, the cam gear 140b is not rotated, and the intermediate transfer rollers 732Y, 732M, and 732C are maintained at the pressing locations. In this state, color printing may be performed.
- the main gear 160 may be rotated by a motor (not shown) for driving the intermediate transfer belt 731.
- the motor (not shown) may drive the other components of the image forming apparatus 700.
- the intermediate transfer rollers 732Y, 732M, and 732C may be switched between pressing locations and releasing locations without employing a special driving source.
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Description
- One or more embodiments relate to a sheet supplying apparatus that feeds one sheet at a time from a loading table.
- Apparatuses using a sheet-type medium, for example, a cut sheet (hereinafter, referred to as paper), such as, printers, scanners, and ticket machines, employ a sheet supplying apparatus that feeds one sheet at a time from a loading table on which a plurality of sheets are placed.
- A pickup roller that picks up a sheet of paper from a loading table contacts paper when feeding is performed, but is apart from the paper when feeding is not performed. The pickup roller is provided on a holder supported to be pivotable about a shaft. The pickup roller is connected to the shaft and is rotatable by the shaft. A spring clutch, a torque limiter, and the like are mounted on the shaft to rotate the holder due to a load when the shaft rotates, thereby making the pickup roller be in contact with/apart from paper. However, the spring clutch and the torque limiter may increase a driving load and generate noise when being operated. A difference between pressing forces with which the pickup roller presses paper may increase a risk of multi-feeding.
- A stopper that switches between a location for aligning fore-ends of papers contained on the loading table and a location allowing paper to be fed and transported may be employed. In this case, driving equipment, such as a solenoid, is employed to drive the stopper, which causes a cost increase.
-
US2008/0061494 A1 discloses a media-feed mechanism for a business machine. - One or more embodiments include a sheet supplying apparatus capable of switching locations of a pickup member and an alignment member, and a sheet processing apparatus employing the sheet supplying apparatus.
- Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the disclosed embodiments.
- The invention is directed to a sheet supplying apparatus according to
claim 1. - According to the above-described embodiments, a sheet supplying apparatus capable of switching locations of a pickup roller and an alignment member by using forward and backward rotations of a main gear that pivots a swing arm.
- The locations of the pickup roller and the alignment member may be switched without employing a torque limiter, a spring clutch, a solenoid, or the like, thereby reducing manufacturing costs and operation noise. Moreover, a pressing force applied to the pickup roller may be stabilized, and thus stable feeding is possible. The pressing roller may be pressed/released to/from the fixing roller without employing a special driving source.
- These and/or other aspects will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
-
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sheet supplying apparatus according to an embodiment; -
FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of a sheet supplying apparatus according to an embodiment; -
FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of a state of the sheet supplying apparatus ofFIGS. 1 and2 in which a pickup roller is positioned at a pickup location; -
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a separating unit having a retard-type separation structure, according to an embodiment; -
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an example of a structure for fixing a member to a pivoting shaft; -
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a cam gear according to an embodiment; -
FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a swing arm and first and second swing gears according to an embodiment; -
FIGS. 8a-8f are schematic side views for illustrating location switching of an alignment member and a holder; -
FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a scanner employing a sheet supplying apparatus; -
FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of an image forming apparatus employing a sheet supplying apparatus, not forming part of the invention; -
FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a multi-function printer not forming part of the invention; -
FIG. 12 is a schematic perspective view of a fixing unit ofFIG. 10 . -
FIGS. 13a-13d are side views illustrating a process of forming/releasing a pressing force; -
FIG. 14 is a partially-exploded perspective view of a transfer not according to the invention; -
FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a releasing member not acording to the invention; and -
FIGS. 16a-16d are side views illustrating a process of switching an intermediate transfer roller between a pressing location and a releasing location, not according to the invention. - Embodiments of a sheet supplying apparatus, a sheet processing apparatus employing the sheet supplying apparatus, and an image forming apparatus will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Like reference numerals in the drawings denote like elements, and, in the drawings, the sizes or thicknesses of elements may be exaggerated for clarity of explanation.
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FIG. 1 is a perspective view of asheet supplying apparatus 1 according to an embodiment.FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of thesheet supplying apparatus 1 according to an embodiment.FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of a state of thesheet supplying apparatus 1 in which apickup roller 20 is positioned at a pickup location. Referring toFIGS. 1-3 , thesheet supplying apparatus 1 may include a loading table 10 on which sheet-type media, for example, a cut sheet (hereinafter, referred to as papers), are placed, and the pickup roller (pickup member) 20 that picks up a sheet of paper P from the loading table 10. A pickup member is not limited to a roller type, and may be any of various types, such as, a belt type. - The
pickup roller 20 is supported by aholder 40 that is pivotable. As shown inFIG. 3 , theholder 40 is pivoted to a pickup location for allowing thepickup roller 20 to contact a sheet P1 at the top from among the papers P placed on the loading table 10. As shown inFIG. 2 , theholder 40 is pivoted to a separating location for separating thepickup roller 20 from the sheet P1. Theholder 40 is positioned at the pickup location when feeding is performed, and is positioned at the separating location when feeding is not performed. - When the
pickup roller 20 rotates at the pickup location, the sheet P1 is picked up and fed out of the loading table 10. In some case, the sheet P1 and at least one sheet P2 below the sheet P1 may be guided out together, which is referred to as multi-feeding. - The
sheet supplying apparatus 1 may further include a separatingunit 30 separating and transporting only one sheet, for example, only the sheet P1, when multi-feeding occurs. The separatingunit 30 may have various structures, such as a friction separation structure and a retard-type separation structure. Because the structure of the separatingunit 30 is well known, a separatingunit 30 having a retard-type separation structure will now be described in brief.FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a separatingunit 30 having a retard-type separation structure, according to an embodiment. - The separating
unit 30 may include afeed roller 31, aretard roller 32, and atorque limiter 33. Thefeed roller 31 and theretard roller 32 rotate in mesh with each other. Thefeed roller 31 is connected to, for example, amotor 100, and is rotated in a first direction B1 such that the papers P are transported in a withdrawing direction A1. A driving force in a second direction B2 to transport the papers P in a direction A2 opposite the withdrawing direction A1 is transmitted from themotor 100 to theretard roller 32. Thetorque limiter 33 limits the driving force in the second direction B2 transmitted to theretard roller 32. Thetorque limiter 33 may have various well-known structures. For example, thetorque limiter 33 may be implemented by a spring clutch structure. Thetorque limiter 33 may be provided between, for example, a rotation shaft 32-1 and theretard roller 32 or between agear 34 transmitting the driving force of themotor 100 in the second direction B2 to the rotation shaft 32-1 and the rotation shaft 32-1. - The
torque limiter 33 limits the driving force in the second direction B2 transmitted to theretard roller 32, according to the size of a load torque applied to theretard roller 32. When the load torque applied to theretard roller 32 is less than a threshold torque provided by thetorque limiter 33, the driving force in the second direction B2 is transmitted to theretard roller 32, and thus theretard roller 32 rotates in the second direction B2. When the load torque applied to theretard roller 32 exceeds the threshold torque provided by thetorque limiter 33, the driving force in the second direction B2 transmitted to theretard roller 32 is blocked by thetorque limiter 33. In this case, theretard roller 32 is rotated in a third direction B3 by thefeed roller 31. - A separating operation according to such a structure will now be described in brief.
- When no paper P or only one sheet of paper P is guided between the
feed roller 31 and theretard roller 32, the load torque applied to theretard roller 32 is greater than the threshold torque of thetorque limiter 33, and thus thetorque limiter 33 blocks the driving force toward theretard roller 32. Accordingly, theretard roller 32 rotates in the third direction B3 for transporting the papers P in the withdrawing direction A1 in corporation with thefeed roller 31. - When at least two sheets of paper P, for example, the sheet P1 and the sheet P2, are guided between the
feed roller 31 and theretard roller 32, the sheet P1 and the sheet P2 contact thefeed roller 31 and theretard roller 32, respectively. At this time, friction between the sheet P1 and the sheet P2 is less than friction between the sheet P2 and theretard roller 32. Thus, a slip occurs between the sheet P1 and the sheet P2, and the load torque applied to theretard roller 32 is less than the threshold torque provided by thetorque limiter 33. Theretard roller 32 rotates in the second direction B2, and the sheet P2 is transported in the direction A2 opposite the withdrawing direction A1 by theretard roller 32. Accordingly, only the sheet P1 passes between thefeed roller 31 and theretard roller 32 and is transported in the withdrawing direction A1. - The
sheet supplying apparatus 1 may further include analignment member 60. Thealignment member 60 is positioned at an alignment location, as shown inFIG. 2 , and provides an alignment criterion of fore-ends PF of the papers P when the papers P are placed on the loading table 10. At the alignment location, the fore-ends PF of the papers P placed on the loading table 10 contact thealignment member 60. Thealignment member 60 may be switched to a transport-allowing location, as shown inFIG. 3 , in order to allow a sheet picked up by thepickup roller 20 to be transported. Thesheet supplying apparatus 1 may further include astopper 70 that stops thealignment member 60 to not excessively rotate beyond the transport-allowing location. - The
alignment member 60 may be coupled to a pivotingshaft 120.FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an example of a structure for fixing a member to the pivotingshaft 120. As shown inFIG. 5 , a pin 120-2 is inserted into a pin hole 120-1 provided in the pivotingshaft 120. A pin accommodating portion 60-1, in which the pin 120-2 is accommodated, is provided on thealignment member 60. Thealignment member 60 is inserted into the pivotingshaft 120 such that the pin 120-2 is seated on the pin accommodating portion 60-1. Thealignment member 60 may be integrally formed with the pivotingshaft 120. - For example, the
holder 40 is provided to be pivotable about a rotation shaft 31-1 of thefeed roller 31. Thepickup roller 20 rotates in connection with thefeed roller 31. According to an embodiment, thepickup roller 20 is connected to thefeed roller 31 via atiming belt 80, but a gear (not shown) may be used instead of thetiming belt 80. In this case, an odd number of gears are employed so that thepickup roller 20 and thefeed roller 31 rotate in the same direction. - A first
elastic member 50 applies, to theholder 40, an elastic force in a direction allowing theholder 40 to be pivoted to the pickup location. For example, the firstelastic member 50 may be one of various types of members including a compression coil spring, a tension coil spring, a torsion spring, and the like. - When the
alignment member 60 pivots from the transport-allowing location to the alignment location, thealignment member 60 may push theholder 40 in a direction opposite a direction of the elastic force of the firstelastic member 50 and pivots theholder 40 to the separating location. At the alignment location, thealignment member 60 supports theholder 40 and maintains theholder 40 at the separating location. When thealignment member 60 pivots from the alignment location to the transport-allowing location, theholder 40 pivots from the separating location to the pickup location due to the elastic force of the firstelastic member 50. - According to this structure, without providing a torque limiter or a spring clutch on the
feed roller 31 and thepickup roller 20, thepickup roller 20 may be switched between the pickup location and the separating location. Accordingly, a location of thepickup roller 20 may be switched without an increase in a driving load or generation of noise. Because a pressing force of pressing thepickup roller 20 down on the papers P is determined by the firstelastic member 50, a stable pressing force may be applied to thepickup roller 20, and thus the risk of multi-feeding due to a difference between pressing forces applied may be reduced. - An example of a structure for switching the
alignment member 60 between the alignment location and the transport-allowing location will now be described. According to an embodiment, thealignment member 60 is switched between the alignment location and the transport-allowing location by using a swinging operation of a gear without using a driver, such as a solenoid. - Referring to
FIG. 1 , alever 130 is provided on one end of the pivotingshaft 120. Thelever 130 may be fixed to the pivotingshaft 120. For example, as shown inFIG. 5 , a pin 120-4 is inserted into a pin hole 120-3 provided in the pivotingshaft 120. A pin accommodating portion 130-1, in which the pin 120-4 is accommodated, is provided on thelever 130. Thelever 130 is inserted into the pivotingshaft 120 such that the pin 120-4 is seated on the pin accommodating portion 130-1. Thelever 130 may be integrally formed with the pivotingshaft 120. - A
cam gear 140 switches thealignment member 60 between the alignment location and the transport-allowing location according to a rotation phase of thecam gear 140.FIG. 6 is a perspective view of thecam gear 140 according to an embodiment. Referring toFIGS. 1 and6 , thecam gear 140 may include agear portion 141 and acam portion 143. A tooth-omittedportion 142 is partially provided on thegear portion 141. Thecam portion 143 has acam profile 144 for switching thealignment member 60 between the alignment location and the transport-allowing location. According to an embodiment, thecam portion 143 is connected to thelever 130. Thecam portion 143 may contact thelever 130 and pivot the pivotingshaft 120 to switch thealignment member 60 to the alignment location. When the contact between thecam portion 143 and thelever 130 is terminated, theholder 40 presses thealignment member 60 due to the elastic force of the firstelastic member 50, and thus thealignment member 60 may be pivoted to the transport-allowing location. - The
sheet supplying apparatus 1 may further include a secondelastic member 150 which provides an elastic force in a direction allowing thealignment member 60 to be switched to the transport-allowing location. For example, the secondelastic member 150 applies, to the pivotingshaft 120, the elastic force in a direction allowing thealignment member 60 to be switched to the transport-allowing location. The secondelastic member 150 may be not only a torsion spring, as shown inFIG. 1 , but also may be any of various types of springs, such as a compression or tension coil spring, a plate spring, and the like. - The
cam gear 140 is rotated by themotor 100. Amain gear 160 is connected to themotor 100. Aswing arm 170 is pivotable about the same axis as a rotation axis of themain gear 160. For example, theswing arm 170 may be pivotable about the rotation axis of themain gear 160. First and second swing gears 181 and 182 engage with themain gear 160. -
FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of theswing arm 170 and the first and second swing gears 181 and 182 according to an embodiment. As shown inFIGS. 1 and7 , the first and second swing gears 181 and 182 are provided on theswing arm 170. First andsecond shafts swing arm 170. The first and second swing gears 181 and 182 are provided to be rotatable about the first andsecond shafts load providing member 173 providing a rotation load to the first and second swing gears 181 and 182 is interposed between each of the first and second swing gears 181 and 182 and theswing arm 170. Theload providing member 173 may be, for example, a spring washer, a friction pad, or the like. - According to such a structure, the
swing arm 170 pivots in the same direction as a rotation direction of themain gear 160. Thus, according to the rotation direction of themain gear 160, the first and second swing gears 181 and 182 are selectively connected to thegear portion 141 of thecam gear 140. In order to prevent changing of a rotation direction of thecam gear 140 even when the rotation direction of themain gear 160 is changed, anidle gear 190 is interposed between one of the first and second swing gears 181 and 182 and thegear portion 141. According to an embodiment, theidle gear 190 is interposed between thesecond swing gear 182 and thegear portion 141. The number ofidle gears 190 is an odd number. According to an embodiment, the singleidle gear 190 engages with thegear portion 141. -
FIGS. 8a-8f are schematic side views for illustrating location switching of thealignment member 60 and theholder 40. An operation of thesheet supplying apparatus 1 according to the above-described structure will now be described with reference toFIGS. 8a-8f . - Referring to
FIG. 8a , thecam gear 140 is positioned at a first rotating location. Thelever 130 contacts thecam portion 143, and thus thealignment member 60 is positioned at the alignment location. Theholder 40 is supported by thealignment member 60 and positioned at the separating location. Thesecond swing gear 182 is connected to theidle gear 190, and theidle gear 190 is positioned on the tooth-omittedportion 142. In this state, when the papers P are placed on the loading table 10, the fore-ends PF of the papers P contact thealignment member 60, and thus the papers P are aligned. - In the state shown in
FIG. 8a , when themotor 100 rotates in a forward direction, themain gear 160 rotates in a direction C1, as shown inFIG. 8b . Then, theswing arm 170 is rotated in the direction C1, thesecond swing gear 182 is spaced apart from theidle gear 190, and thefirst swing gear 181 is connected to thegear portion 141. - When the
motor 100 continuously rotates in the forward direction, thecam gear 140 rotates in a direction D1, as shown inFIG. 8c . When the contact between thecam portion 143 and thelever 130 is terminated, thecam gear 140 reaches a second rotating location that allows thealignment member 60 to be switched to the transport-allowing location. The pivotingshaft 120 is pivoted due to the elastic force of the secondelastic member 150, and thealignment member 60 is switched to the transport-allowing location. When thealignment member 60 reaches the transport-allowing location, thealignment member 60 contacts thestopper 70 ofFIG. 3 . Accordingly, thealignment member 60 is maintained at the transport-allowing location due to the elastic force of the secondelastic member 150 and thestopper 70. Theholder 40 is pivoted to the pickup location allowing thepickup roller 20 to contact the papers P, due to the elastic force of the firstelastic member 50. - When the second
elastic member 150 is not included, thealignment member 60 may be pushed by theholder 40 pivoted to the pickup location due to the elastic force of the firstelastic member 50 and thus pivoted to the transport-allowing location, and consequently thealignment member 60 may contact thestopper 70. - When the contact between the
cam portion 143 and thelever 130 is terminated, namely, when thecam gear 140 reaches the second rotating location, thefirst swing gear 181 is positioned on the tooth-omittedportion 142. Theidle gear 190 deviates from the tooth-omittedportion 142 and is connected to thegear portion 141, but thesecond swing gear 182 is spaced apart from theidle gear 190. Thus, in this state, even when themotor 100 rotates in the forward direction, thecam gear 140 does not rotate, and a sheet P is guided out of the loading table 10 by thepickup roller 20. - When feeding of the sheet P is completed, an operation of switching the
alignment member 60 to the alignment location and theholder 40 to the separating location is performed. - The
motor 100 rotates in a backward direction. As shown inFIG. 8d , themain gear 160 rotates in a direction C2. Then, theswing arm 170 is rotated in the direction C2, thefirst swing gear 181 is spaced apart from the tooth-omittedportion 142, and thesecond swing gear 182 is connected to theidle gear 190. Theidle gear 190 is connected to thegear portion 141. - When the
motor 100 continuously rotates in the backward direction, thecam gear 140 rotates in the direction D1, as shown inFIG. 8e . Thecam portion 143 contacts thelever 130. As thecam gear 140 rotates in the direction D1, thecam portion 141 pushes thelever 130, and the pivotingshaft 120 is pivoted in a direction opposite to a direction of the elastic force of the secondelastic member 150. Thealignment member 60 is pivoted from the transport-allowing location to the alignment location. When thecam gear 140 continuously rotates in the direction D1 while thealignment member 60 is in contact with theholder 40, thealignment member 60 pushes theholder 40 in the direction opposite to the direction of the elastic force of the firstelastic member 50 while being pivoted to the alignment location. Theholder 40 is pivoted toward the separating location. - As shown in
FIG. 8f , when thealignment member 60 reaches the alignment location, theholder 40 reaches the separating location. At this time, theidle gear 190 is positioned on the tooth-omittedportion 142, and thecam gear 140 reaches the first rotating location. Accordingly, the rotation force of themotor 100 in the backward direction is not transmitted to thecam gear 140, and thecam gear 140 is stopped. Because thelever 130 is supported by thecam portion 143, thealignment member 60 maintains the alignment location, and theholder 40 is supported by thealignment member 60 and thus maintains the separating location. - When an abnormal feeding-terminated situation occurs, such as, when a jam occurs during feeding or when the
sheet supplying apparatus 1 is powered off, an operation of addressing the abnormal feeding-terminated situation and then initializing the location of thecam gear 140 may be needed. In this case, themotor 100 rotates in the forward direction for a certain period of time. Then, thecam gear 140 is positioned at the second rotating location, as shown inFIG. 8c . In this state, when themotor 100 rotates in the backward direction again, thecam gear 140 may reach the first rotating location, as shown inFIG. 8a . A time period for the rotation in the forward direction and a time period for the rotation in the backward direction are long enough as one rotation of thecam gear 140. - The shape of the
cam profile 144 of thecam portion 143 and a connection structure between thecam portion 143 and thelever 130 are not limited to the aforementioned examples. The shape of thecam profile 144 of thecam portion 143 and the connection structure between thecam portion 143 and thelever 130 may be implemented as various embodiments capable of switching thealignment member 60 between the alignment location and the transport-allowing location. - As such, without employing an additional driving source, such as a solenoid, the
alignment member 60 may be switched between the alignment location and the transport-allowing location and theholder 40 may be switched between the pickup location and the separating location, due to the forward rotation and the backward rotation of themotor 100 for driving thesheet supplying apparatus 1. Thus, costs for manufacturing thesheet supplying apparatus 1 may be reduced. - The above-described
sheet supplying apparatus 1 is applicable to various apparatuses (sheet processing apparatuses).FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of ascanner 600 employing asheet supplying apparatus 1, not according to the invention. Referring toFIG. 9 , thescanner 600 may include thesheet supplying apparatus 1, and a sheet processing unit which reads out an image from a document D supplied by thesheet supplying apparatus 1 while transporting the document D. The sheet processing unit may include adocument transport unit 600a and aread unit 600b reading an image from the document D. Thesheet supplying apparatus 1 employed in thescanner 600 is the above-describedsheet supplying apparatus 1. Because thescanner 600 reads an image recorded on a document, thesheet supplying apparatus 1 supplies the document D. - The
read unit 600b may include aread member 650 for reading an image from the document D. Theread member 650 radiates light to the document D, and receives light reflected by the document D to thereby read the image from the document D. For example, a contact type image sensor (CIS), a charge-coupled device (CCD), or the like may be employed as theread member 650. - Types of the
scanner 600 include a flatbed type in which the document D is located in a fixed location and a read member, such as a CIS or a CCD, reads an image from the document D while moving, a document feed type in which the read member is located in a fixed location and the document D is transported, and a combination of the two types. Thescanner 600 is a scanner of a combination of the flatbed type and the document feed type. - The
read unit 600b further may include aplaten glass 660 on which the document D is placed so that an image is read from the document D using a flatbed method. Theread unit 600b further may include aread window 670 for reading an image from the document D therethrough by using a document feed method. The readwindow 670 may be, for example, a transparent member. For example, a top surface of the readwindow 670 may be at a same level as a top surface of theplaten glass 660. - When the document feed method is applied, the
read member 650 is located below the readwindow 670. When the flatbed method is applied, theread member 650 may be moved from below theplaten glass 660 in a sub-scanning direction S, namely, a lengthwise direction of the document D, by a transportation unit (not shown). Moreover, when the flatbed method is applied, theplaten glass 660 needs to be exposed to the outside such that the document D is placed thereon. To this end, thedocument transport unit 600a may expose theplaten glass 660 by being pivoted with respect to theread unit 600b. - The
document transport unit 600a transports the document D such that theread member 650 may read an image from the document D, and discharges the document D from which an image has been read. To this end, thedocument transport unit 600a may include adocument transport path 610, and theread member 650 reads an image from the document D transported along thedocument transport path 610. For example, thedocument transport path 610 may include asupply path 611, aread path 612, and adischarge path 613. Theread member 650 is disposed on theread path 612, and, while the document D is passing theread path 612, the image recorded on the document D is read out by theread member 650. Thesupply path 611 is used to supply the document D to theread path 612, and the document D placed on the loading table 10 is supplied to theread path 612 via thesupply path 611. Thedischarge path 613 is used to discharge the document D that has passed theread path 612. Accordingly, the document D placed on the loading table 10 is transported along thesupply path 611, theread path 612, and thedischarge path 613 and is discharged to adischarge tray 630. - Transporting
rollers sheet supplying apparatus 1 may be arranged on thedocument transport path 610. Each of the transportingrollers - Transporting
rollers read path 612. For example, the transportingrollers member 650, respectively. Each of the transportingrollers read guiding member 624 opposite to theread member 650 is disposed on theread path 612. Theread guiding member 624 presses theread window 670 by the own weight of theread guiding member 624 or by anelastic member 625, and the document D is transported between the readwindow 670 and theread guiding member 624. Although not shown inFIG. 9 , a read roller that rotates while elastically pressuring theread window 670 and transports the document D supplied between the read roller and theread window 670 may be used instead of theread guiding member 624. - A
discharge roller 627 discharging the document D on which reading has been completed is disposed on thedischarge path 613. Thedischarge roller 627 has a structure in which a driving roller and a driven roller rotate in mesh with each other. - According to this structure, the document D supplied by the
sheet supplying apparatus 1 may be transported along thesupply path 611, theread path 612, and thedischarge path 613, and theread member 650 may read an image from the document D. - The shape of the
scanner 600 is not limited to the example ofFIG. 9 . For example, for double-sided reading, thescanner 600 may further include a path (re-transporting path) for transporting a document D having one read side back to a transportingroller 623 by rotating thedischarge roller 627 in a backward direction. Alternatively, for double-sided reading, anotherread member 650 for reading an image from the other side of the document D may be disposed on an upstream side of thedischarge roller 627. -
FIG. 10 is a schematic view of animage forming apparatus 700 employing asheet supplying apparatus 1, not forming part of the invention. Referring toFIG. 10 , theimage forming apparatus 700 may include thesheet supplying apparatus 1, and a printing unit (sheet processing unit) 700a which prints an image on a sheet P supplied by thesheet supplying apparatus 1. As shown by a solid line ofFIG. 10 , thesheet supplying apparatus 1 may be placed as a cassette feeder, below theprinting unit 700a. As shown by a dashed line ofFIG. 10 , thesheet supplying apparatus 1 may be implemented as a multi-purpose tray (MPT) placed on one lateral side of theprinting unit 700a. - The
printing unit 700a not forming part of the invention may print an image on the sheet P according to any of various methods, such as electrophotography, inkjet printing, thermal transfer printing, and thermal sublimation. Theimage forming apparatus 700 prints a color image to the sheet P via electrophotography. Referring toFIG. 10 , theprinting unit 700a may include a plurality of developingunits 710, anexposure unit 720, a transfer unit, and afixing unit 740. - For color printing, the plurality of developing
units 710 may include four developingunits 710 for developing images with cyan (C) color, magenta (M) color, yellow (Y) color, and black (K) color, respectively. Toners with cyan (C) color, magenta (M) color, yellow (Y) color, and black (K) color may be contained in the four developingunits 710, respectively. Theprinting unit 700a further may include developingunits 710 for containing and developing toners of other various colors such as a light magenta color, a white color, or the like. - Each developing
unit 710 may include aphotoconductive drum 7a. Thephotoconductive drum 7a, as a photoconductor on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, may include a conductive metal pipe and a photosensitive layer formed at an outer circumference of the conductive metal pipe. A chargingroller 7c is an example of a charger that charges a surface of thephotosensitive drum 7a to have a uniform surface potential. Acleaning blade 7d is an example of a cleaning member that removes residual toners and foreign substances attached to the surface of thephotosensitive drum 7a after a transfer process to be described below. - The developing
unit 710 supplies a toner contained therein to an electrostatic latent image formed on thephotoconductive drum 7a, thereby developing the electrostatic latent image to a visible toner image. A developing method may include a one-component developing method using a toner and a two-component developing method using a toner and a carrier. The developingunit 710 employs the one-component developing method. A developing roller 7b supplies a toner to thephotoconductive drum 7a. A developing bias voltage may be applied to the developing roller 7b to supply the toner to thephotosensitive drum 7a. - The one-component developing method may be classified into a contact developing method in which the developing roller 7b and the
photoconductive drum 7a rotate in contact with each other, or a non-contact developing method in which the developing roller 7b and thephotoconductive drum 7a are spaced apart from each other by several tens to several hundreds of micrometers and rotate. A supply roller 7e supplies the toner in the developingunit 710 to a surface of the developing roller 7b. A supply bias voltage for supplying the toner in the developingunit 710 to a surface of the developing roller 7b may be applied to the supply roller 7e. - The
exposure unit 720 radiates light modulated in correspondence with image information onto thephotoconductive drum 7a and forms the electrostatic latent image on thephotoconductive drum 7a. Examples of theexposure unit 720 may include a laser scanning unit (LSU) using a laser diode as a light source and a light emitting diode (LED) exposure unit using an LED as a light source. - The transfer unit may include an
intermediate transfer belt 731, anintermediate transfer roller 732, and atransfer roller 733. Theintermediate transfer belt 731 temporarily receives a toner image developed on thephotoconductive drum 7a of each of the four developingunits 710. Theintermediate transfer belt 731 is circulated while being supported by supportingrollers intermediate transfer rollers 732 are positioned to face thephotoconductive drums 7a of the four developingunits 710 with theintermediate transfer belt 731 therebetween. A first transfer bias voltage is applied to the fourintermediate transfer rollers 732 so as to firstly transfer toner images, which are developed on thephotosensitive drums 7a, to theintermediate transfer belt 731. Thetransfer roller 733 is positioned to face theintermediate transfer belt 731. A second transfer bias voltage is applied to thetransfer roller 733 so as to transfer, to the sheet P, the toner images that are firstly-transferred to theintermediate transfer belt 731. - When a print command is transmitted from a host (not shown) or the like, a controller (not shown) charges, by using the charging
roller 7c, the surface of thephotoconductive drum 7a to have a uniform surface potential. Theexposure unit 720 forms electrostatic latent images on thephotoconductive drums 7a by scanning four light-beams to thephotoconductive drums 7a of the four developingunit 710, the four light-beams being modulated according to image information corresponding to cyan, magenta, yellow, and black colors, respectively. The developing rollers 7b of the four developingunits 710 supply C, M, Y, and K toners to thephotoconductive drums 7a, respectively, thereby developing the electrostatic latent images into visible toner images. The developed toner images are firstly transferred to theintermediate transfer belt 731. The sheet P from thesheet supplying apparatus 1 is transported to a transfer nip formed by thetransfer roller 733 and theintermediate transfer belt 731. The toner images that are firstly-transferred to theintermediate transfer belt 731 are secondly transferred to the sheet P due to the second transfer bias voltage applied to thetransfer roller 733. When the sheet P passes through the fixingunit 740, the toner images are fixed on the sheet P due to heat and pressure. The sheet P on which fixing has been completed is externally discharged by a dischargingroller 750. - The
scanner 600 and theimage forming apparatus 700 may be used as independent apparatuses or as a combination of a scanner and an image forming apparatus.FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a multi-function printer according to an embodiment not according to the invention. - Referring to
FIG. 11 , thescanner 600 is disposed on theprinting unit 700a. The structures of thescanner 600 and theprinting unit 700a have already been described above with reference toFIGS. 9 and10 . Thesheet supplying apparatus 1 supplying a sheet P to theprinting unit 700a may be implemented in various types. For example, thesheet supplying apparatus 1 may be realized as an MPT placed on a lateral side of theprinting unit 700a, amain cassette feeder 810 provided below theprinting unit 700a, asecondary cassette feeder 820 provided below themain cassette feeder 810, ahigh capacity feeder 830 provided below themain cassette feeder 810 or thesecondary cassette feeder 820, or ahigh capacity feeder 840 provided on a lateral side of theprinting unit 700a, as shown inFIG. 11 . - The
swing arm 170, the first and second swing gears 181 and 182, and thecam gear 140 described above may change a mode of an object via forward and backward rotations of a motor. This structure is applicable to various fields. For example, referring back toFIG. 10 , the fixingunit 740 may include a fixingroller 741 and apressing roller 742 rotating in mesh with each other. Thepressing roller 742 presses and contacts the fixingroller 741. When a jam occurs during printing, a pressing force applied to thepressing roller 742 may be released to handle the jam. To this end, a special driving source may be employed. In this case, costs of image forming apparatuses may increase. By employing theswing arm 170, the first and second swing gears 181 and 182, and thecam gear 140 described above, the pressing force applied to thepressing roller 742 may be released by using forward rotation and backward rotation of a motor for driving the fixingroller 741. -
FIG. 12 is a schematic perspective view of the fixingunit 740 ofFIG. 10 according to an embodiment not according to the invention.FIGS. 13a-13d are side views illustrating a process of forming/releasing a pressing force. Referring toFIGS. 12 and13a-13d , aspring 743 presses thepressing roller 742 toward the fixingroller 741. For example, thespring 743 is a tension coil spring. Arelease lever 744 is supported to be pivotable about a pivotingshaft 745. One end of therelease lever 744 contacts acam portion 143a. One end of thespring 743 is connected to thepressing roller 742, and the other end thereof is connected to therelease lever 744. - Referring to
FIG. 13a , acam gear 140a is positioned at a first rotating location. Therelease lever 744 contacts a topdead portion 143a-1 of thecam portion 143a, and extends thespring 743 and is positioned at a pressing location for pressing thepressing roller 742 toward the fixingroller 741. Asecond swing gear 182 is connected to anidle gear 190, and theidle gear 190 is positioned at a tooth-omittedportion 142a. Afirst swing gear 181 is spaced apart from agear portion 141a. Even when amain gear 160 rotates in a forward direction, thecam gear 140a is not rotated, and therelease lever 744 is maintained at the pressing location. In this state, printing may be performed. - When the pressing force needs to be released, the
main gear 160 rotates in a backward direction. Then, as shown inFIG. 13b , aswing arm 170 rotates in the same direction as the rotating direction of themain gear 160, and thefirst swing gear 181 is connected to thegear portion 141a. Thesecond swing gear 182 is spaced apart from theidle gear 190. - When the
main gear 160 continuously rotates in the backward direction, thecam gear 140a rotates as shown inFIG. 13c , and thus therelease lever 744 contacts a bottomdead portion 143a-2 of thecam portion 143a, and therelease lever 744 is pivoted in a direction shortening thespring 743 and is thus positioned at a releasing location. Thus, the pressing force applied to thepressing roller 742 by thespring 743 is reduced or released. At this time, thefirst swing gear 181 is positioned on the tooth-omittedportion 142a, and thecam gear 140a reaches a second rotating location. - To perform printing again, an operation of switching the
release lever 744 to the pressing location is performed. - When the
main gear 160 rotates in the forward direction, thesecond swing gear 182 is connected to theidle gear 190, as shown inFIG. 13d , and thefirst swing gear 181 is spaced apart from the tooth-omittedportion 141a. When themain gear 160 continuously rotates in the forward direction, as shown inFIG. 13a , thecam gear 140a returns to the first rotating location. Therelease lever 744 is positioned at a pressing location where therelease lever 744 contacts the topdead portion 143a-1, and thepressing roller 742 is pressed toward the fixingroller 741 by thespring 743. Theidle gear 190 is positioned at the tooth-omittedportion 142a, and, even when themain gear 160 rotates in the forward direction, thecam gear 140a does not rotate. In this state, printing may be performed. - The
main gear 160 may be rotated by a motor (not shown) for driving thepressing roller 742 and the fixingroller 741. The motor (not shown) may drive the other components of theimage forming apparatus 700. According to the above-described structure, the pressing force may be released/formed by using the motor that drives the fixingunit 740, without employing a special driving source. - Referring back to
FIG. 10 , theintermediate transfer rollers 732 are pressed toward thephotoconductive drums 7a to form a transfer nip between thephotoconductive drums 7a and theintermediate transfer belt 731. When a color image is printed, all of the fourintermediate transfer rollers 732 may be positioned at pressing locations for pressing thephotoconductive drums 7a of the four developingunits 710 respectively corresponding to the fourintermediate transfer rollers 732. When a single-color image, namely, a K color image, is printed, only the developingunit 710 corresponding to the K color is used. In this case, only theintermediate transfer roller 732 corresponding to the K color is maintained at a pressing location where theintermediate transfer roller 732 is pressed toward thephotoconductive drum 7a of the developingunit 710 corresponding to theintermediate transfer roller 732, and the other threeintermediate transfer rollers 732 respectively corresponding to Y, C, and M colors may be positioned at releasing locations where pressing forces have been released. As such, pressing forces ofintermediate transfer rollers 732 not used when a single-color image is printed are released, and thus wear of theintermediate transfer belt 731 may be reduced. -
FIG. 14 is a partially-exploded perspective view of a transfer unit according to an embodiment not according to the invention. Referring toFIG. 14 , anintermediate transfer roller 732Y is supported by a pair of frames 760-1 and 760-2. For example, a pair ofsupport brackets 761 are inserted into both ends of theintermediate transfer roller 732Y and are supported to be pivotable aboutshafts 762 provided on the frames 760-1 and 760-2.Springs 763 apply elastic forces so that thesupport brackets 761 are pivoted in a direction in which theintermediate transfer roller 732Y approaches aphotoconductive drum 7a.Intermediate transfer rollers intermediate transfer roller 732Y. Anintermediate transfer roller 732K may be supported by the frames 760-1 and 760-2 to be maintained at a pressing location. Theintermediate transfer roller 732K may be supported by the frames 760-1 and 760-2 according to the same method as that for theintermediate transfer roller 732Y. However, theintermediate transfer roller 732K is maintained at the pressing location. - By pivoting the
support brackets 761, theintermediate transfer rollers member 770 is slidably supported by each of the frames 760-1 and 760-2. For example, the releasingmembers 770 may be slidable in traveling directions F1 and F2 of theintermediate transfer belt 731.FIG. 15 is a perspective view of each releasingmember 770 according to an embodiment. Referring toFIGS. 14 and15 , the releasingmember 770 may include first andsecond contact portions member 770 further may include threeinclined portions 773 inclined in the sliding direction to pivot thesupport brackets 761. Theinclined portions 773 interfere with an interfering portion 761-1 provided on eachsupport bracket 761 and pivots thesupport bracket 761 in the sliding direction of the releasingmember 770. - A
rotation shaft 780 is rotatably supported by the frames 760-1 and 760-2. Acam gear 140b for sliding the releasingmember 770 back and forth is coupled to therotation shaft 780. Thecam gear 140b may include agear portion 141b and acam portion 143b. A tooth-omittedportion 142b is partially provided on thegear portion 141b. When thecam portion 143b contacts thefirst contact portion 771, the releasingmember 770 slides in the direction F1, in which theinclined portions 773 interfere with the interfering portion 761-1. Then, thesupport brackets 761 are pivoted in a direction opposite a direction of the elastic forces of thesprings 763, and thus theintermediate transfer rollers cam portion 143b contacts thesecond contact portion 772, the releasingmember 770 slides in the direction F2, in which theinclined portions 773 are spaced apart from the interfering portion 761-1. Then, due to the elastic forces of thesprings 763, thesupport brackets 761 are pivoted in a direction for positioning theintermediate transfer rollers - The
swing arm 170, the first and second swing gears 181 and 182, and thecam gear 140 described above are employed to rotate thecam gear 140b, thereby reducing the costs for image forming apparatuses.FIGS. 16a-16d are side views illustrating a process of switching anintermediate transfer roller 732 between a pressing location and a releasing location. - Referring to
FIG. 16a , thecam gear 140b is positioned at a first rotating location. Thecam portion 143b contacts thesecond contact portion 772. Theintermediate transfer rollers second swing gear 182 is connected to theidle gear 190, and theidle gear 190 is positioned on the tooth-omittedportion 142b. Thefirst swing gear 181 is spaced apart from thegear portion 141b. Even when themain gear 160 rotates in a forward direction, thecam gear 140b is not rotated, and theintermediate transfer rollers - When a single-color image, namely, a K color image, desires to be printed, the
main gear 160 is rotated in a backward direction. Then, as shown inFIG. 16b , theswing arm 170 rotates in the same direction as the rotating direction of themain gear 160, and thefirst swing gear 181 is connected to thegear portion 141b. Thesecond swing gear 182 is spaced apart from theidle gear 190. - When the
main gear 160 continuously rotates in the backward direction, thecam gear 140b is rotated, and thus thecam portion 143b contacts thefirst contact portion 771, as shown inFIG. 16c . Then, the releasingmember 770 slides in the direction F1, and theinclined portions 773 press the interfering portion 761-1 and pivots thesupport bracket 761 in the direction opposite the direction of the elastic forces of thesprings 763. Then, theintermediate transfer rollers intermediate transfer rollers photoconductive drums 7a corresponding to theintermediate transfer rollers cam gear 140b reaches a second rotating location, thefirst swing gear 181 is positioned on the tooth-omittedportion 142b, and thecam gear 140b reaches the second rotating location. In this state, a single-color image, namely, a K color image, may be printed. - To print a color image again, an operation of switching the
intermediate transfer rollers - When the
main gear 160 rotates in the forward direction, thesecond swing gear 182 is connected to theidle gear 190, as shown inFIG. 16d , and thefirst swing gear 181 is spaced apart from the tooth-omittedportion 141b. When themain gear 160 continuously rotates in the forward direction, thecam gear 140b returns to the first rotating location, as shown inFIG. 16a . When thecam portion 143b contacts thesecond contact portion 772, the releasingmember 770 slides in the direction F2, in which theinclined portions 773 are spaced apart from the interfering portion 761-1. Thesupport brackets 761 are pivoted in the direction of the elastic forces of thesprings 763, and thus theintermediate transfer rollers second swing gear 182 is connected to theidle gear 190, and theidle gear 190 is positioned on the tooth-omittedportion 142b. Thefirst swing gear 181 is spaced apart from thegear portion 141b. Accordingly, even when themain gear 160 rotates in the forward direction, thecam gear 140b is not rotated, and theintermediate transfer rollers - The
main gear 160 may be rotated by a motor (not shown) for driving theintermediate transfer belt 731. The motor (not shown) may drive the other components of theimage forming apparatus 700. According to the above-described structure, theintermediate transfer rollers - While one or more inventive concepts have been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope as defined by the following claims.
Claims (8)
- A sheet supplying apparatus (1), comprising:a loading table (10) configured to accommodate one or more sheets of a printing medium (P);a pickup member (20) configured to pick up a sheet from the loading table (10);an alignment member (60) pivotable to an alignment location for blocking and aligning fore-ends of a sheet on the loading table (10), and to a transport-allowing location for allowing a sheet picked up by the pickup member (20) to be transported;a cam gear (140) comprising a gear portion (141) partially including a tooth-omitted portion (142), and a cam portion (143) configured to switch the alignment member (60) between the alignment location and the transport-allowing location at first and second rotating locations of the cam gear (140);a main gear (160);a swing arm (170) pivotable about a same axis as a rotation axis of the main gear (160); andfirst and second swing gears (181, 182) supported by the swing arm (170) to interlock with the main gear (160), configured to selectively interlock with the gear portion (141) according to a rotating direction of the main gear (160), and to rotate the cam gear (140) to the first and second rotating locations;characterized by comprising:a holder (40) configured to support the pickup member (20) and be pivotable to a pickup location for allowing the pickup member (20) to contact the sheet on the loading table (10), and a separating location for spacing the pickup member (20) apart from the sheet on the loading table (10); anda first elastic member (50) configured to apply to the holder (20) an elastic force in a direction allowing the holder (20) to be pivoted to the pickup location,wherein the alignment member (60) is configured to apply a force to the holder (20) such that the holder (20) is pivoted to the separating location, when the alignment member (60) is switched from the transport-allowing location to the alignment location.
- The sheet supplying apparatus of claim 1, whereinwhen the alignment member (60) is positioned at the alignment location, the second swing gear (182) contacts an idle gear (190) positioned on the tooth-omitted portion (142), andwhen the alignment member (60) is positioned at the transport-allowing location, the first swing gear (181) is positioned on the tooth-omitted portion (142).
- The sheet supplying apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein, when the alignment member (60) is positioned at the alignment location, the alignment member (60) supports the holder (20) such that the holder (20) is maintained at the separating location.
- The sheet supplying apparatus of claim 3, wherein, when the alignment member (60) is switched from the alignment location to the transport-allowing location, the holder (20) is pivoted to the pickup location by the elastic force of the first elastic member (50).
- The sheet supplying apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:a pivoting shaft (120) to which the alignment member (60) is coupled; anda lever (130) coupled to the pivoting shaft (120) and configured to contact the cam portion (143).
- The sheet supplying apparatus of claim 5, wherein the cam gear (140) is configured such that:when the cam gear (140) is rotated to the first rotating location, the cam portion (143) interacts with the lever (130) to position the alignment member (60) at the alignment location, andwhen the cam gear (140) is rotated to the second rotating location, the cam portion (143) is configured to be spaced apart from the lever (130) to switch the alignment member (60) to the transport-allowing location.
- The sheet supplying apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a second elastic member (150) configured to apply to the pivoting shaft (120) an elastic force in a direction allowing the alignment member (60) to be switched to the transport-allowing location.
- The sheet supplying apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a stopper (70) configured to stop the alignment member (60) so that the alignment member (60) is not excessively pivoted beyond the transport-allowing location.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
KR1020160085072A KR20180005083A (en) | 2016-07-05 | 2016-07-05 | sheet supplying apparatus, sheet processing apparatus using the same, and image forming apparatus |
PCT/KR2017/007060 WO2018008931A1 (en) | 2016-07-05 | 2017-07-04 | Sheet supplying apparatus, sheet processing apparatus employing the same, and image forming apparatus |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP3464137A1 EP3464137A1 (en) | 2019-04-10 |
EP3464137A4 EP3464137A4 (en) | 2020-09-02 |
EP3464137B1 true EP3464137B1 (en) | 2023-01-18 |
Family
ID=60910753
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP17824487.7A Active EP3464137B1 (en) | 2016-07-05 | 2017-07-04 | Sheet supplying apparatus |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (3) | US20190310571A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP3464137B1 (en) |
KR (1) | KR20180005083A (en) |
CN (1) | CN109715537B (en) |
WO (1) | WO2018008931A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (4)
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KR20180005083A (en) * | 2016-07-05 | 2018-01-15 | 에스프린팅솔루션 주식회사 | sheet supplying apparatus, sheet processing apparatus using the same, and image forming apparatus |
JP7030465B2 (en) * | 2017-09-27 | 2022-03-07 | キヤノン株式会社 | Transfer unit and image forming device |
JP7081374B2 (en) * | 2018-07-31 | 2022-06-07 | セイコーエプソン株式会社 | Media feeder and image reader |
TWI725787B (en) * | 2020-03-20 | 2021-04-21 | 致伸科技股份有限公司 | Printing device and feeding control module |
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-
2016
- 2016-07-05 KR KR1020160085072A patent/KR20180005083A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
-
2017
- 2017-07-04 US US16/315,064 patent/US20190310571A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2017-07-04 WO PCT/KR2017/007060 patent/WO2018008931A1/en unknown
- 2017-07-04 EP EP17824487.7A patent/EP3464137B1/en active Active
- 2017-07-04 CN CN201780054280.6A patent/CN109715537B/en active Active
- 2017-07-05 US US15/641,711 patent/US10466626B2/en active Active
-
2019
- 2019-09-13 US US16/570,627 patent/US20200004180A1/en not_active Abandoned
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP3464137A1 (en) | 2019-04-10 |
US20190310571A1 (en) | 2019-10-10 |
CN109715537A (en) | 2019-05-03 |
WO2018008931A1 (en) | 2018-01-11 |
KR20180005083A (en) | 2018-01-15 |
CN109715537B (en) | 2020-10-02 |
US10466626B2 (en) | 2019-11-05 |
EP3464137A4 (en) | 2020-09-02 |
US20180011430A1 (en) | 2018-01-11 |
US20200004180A1 (en) | 2020-01-02 |
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